Zig – Zag Transformers

Introduction
The most economical and simple transformer connection is a Yn Yno
connection. This connection however suffers from a disadvantage that an
earth fault in the secondary is reflected to the primary. A delta winding
isolates the earth fault but has other demerits. A Zig – Zag winding
configuration can offer a good solution, which can combine the advantages
of both star and delta connection.

Star Star Connection

A typical star star connection is shown in figure – 1

A B R
R R

Y
B Y B Y B

Fig 1

At the generating station end, the transformer (A) will always have a solidly
earthed Star connection at the HV side. This is a Universal practice, so that
we get a high earth fault current. Thus, a sensitive earth fault protection can
be provided. In case of an earth fault in the secondary of transformer B, the
earth fault is reflected in the primary side also. As shown in the figure, a
proportional current flows through transformer A also. If more than one
transformer (A) is connected to the system, the reflected earth fault current
will flow through the other such star connected transformers also. The
division of current will depend on the resistance of the associated path.

It is possible to have a sensitive and discriminatory earth fault protection at the

transformer B. However, the reflection of fault current is considered to be a
disadvantage as there have been cases of mal-operation of earth fault
protection at transformer A, due to such reflected earth fault currents.

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Delta Star connection

The Delta connection on the primary side is the most ideal connection. The earth
fault in the secondary is reflected as a L – L current in the primary. Normally,
phase overcurrent relay settings are much higher than earth fault settings.
Therefore, spurious operation of upstream protection is avoided.

Also, the zero sequence component (Io) of the earth fault current reflected on to the
primary side circulates within the Delta winding. The connection and current
flow is shown in Fig. – 2.

Fig 2

The above alternative for transformer B is not popular due to the following

Higher cost (particularly at high voltage application. like 220 kV) of delta winding.

Normally a star winding can be rated for L – L voltage / √ 3. Additionally a

graded insulation can be adopted for a solidly earthed connection.

• If an OLTC has to be provided, it is convenient and cheaper to provide it on

a Star winding compared to the Delta winding in a EHV transformer like
220 kV.

Star Delta connection

A typical star delta connection is shown in Fig. – 3. It is evident that on an earth

fault there is no flow of L – G current as there is no return path.

The above though apparently looks like an advantage, actually is not so. As
discussed later, it is important to identify and isolate a ground fault in a
system, particularly if the system has long cable networks.

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 R R

B Y
B Y

Fig 3

In a distribution system where we have large cable network, substantial

capacitance exists. Under normal condition this capacitance offers itself as a
balanced load to the system. The same is shown schematically in Fig. - 4

R VR IYc

IRc
N Y N
B
VB VY
IBc

IRc IYc IBc

Fig 4 Fig 4a

The voltage and current phasors (only for the capacitance) is shown is Fig.
4a.The (pseudo) neutral point shown as N, Its voltage is zero in a balanced
system. Therefore, the cable capacitance between phase to earth has an
L – N voltage impressed across it.

When there is an earth fault in any phase, the capacitance of the faulted phase is
shorted. The phase to earth voltage of the healthy phases increases to L – L
value. The voltage balance across the capacitors in the three phases is
disturbed. As a result capacitive current flows at the fault point as shown in
Fig. – 5. The magnitude of the fault current is three times the normal
capacitive current under healthy condition.

R (E) IYE

IFC
E
N Y
B IBE

VB VY
IFc

Fig 5 Fig 5a
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Comparing phases in Fig. - 4 and Fig. – 5, it is very clear that
VBE = √3 VBN
∴ IBE = √3 IBc
IFC = √3 IBE = √3 x √3 IBc = 3IBc

This capacitive current creates an arc which is not very stable due to its low value.
The arc self extinguishes and restrikes depending on the fault site. This is
called ‘arcing ground’. During the arc, the voltage phaser ( VR – E ) of the
faulty phase goes to zero (nearly). When the arc is broken, it jumps back to
normal. Similarly, during the arc, the voltage to earth of the healthy phases
increases and then reduces when the arc is extinguished. This type of
voltage excursion severely stresses the insulation of the connected
equipment and could lead to failure.

In view of the above, Delta connected transformer secondary is technically not

preferred in such a network

In case where Delta winding in the secondary side has to be adopted for certain
consideration, (like isolation of earth fault current), an additional neutral
earthing transformer has to be provided for earth fault detection and
relaying.

Fig 6

The scheme is as shown in Fig. – 6. A zig – zag transformer is normally

employed due to its inherent higher impedance. Depending on the choice of
the earth fault current, which the system designer would like to adopt, a
neutral grounding resistor may also be provided. The above arrangement
can be seen in many utilities.

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In a delta-connected system, a voltage operated earth fault detection using ‘open
delta’ PT connection can be deployed. The drawback of the system is that
the scheme operates for any earth fault in this system and can not provide
discrimination. If the system is small having few feeders then manual
detection (by switching off the feeders one by one) may be possible.
However this is neither feasible nor recommended for a large system. The
phaser connection of the scheme is shown in Fig. – 7.

Fig 7

r1, b2
Under normal condition voltage across
b1, y2 Relay S

= r1b2 = 0
r2, y1

b2f

b1f , y2f With fault in R phase voltage across relay

S is b2f Y1f = √3 b1f b2f
Now b1fb2f = √3 b1b2
∴ b2f 1f = 3b1b2 or 3 times the healthy
y1f voltage.

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Zig Zag transformer connection.

A zig zag secondary with neutral solidly earthed, offers a good solution particularly
where the impedance requirement is on the higher side, as the zig zag
transformer by virtue of the construction offers a higher impedance. A recent
case in hand was to determine the vector group of a 125 MVA, 220 / 33kV
transformer with OLTC. The other requirements were :

• to restrict the fault level to the available air insulated 33kV

switchgears in the market.
• To allow parallelling of two 125 MVA transformers at 33kv.
• To preferably adopt a vector group which enables the transformers to
be parallelled with existing Yn dll transformers.

With 15% impedance, the fault level with two 125 MVA transformers in parallel is
29 kA. The maximum fault level in a 33 kV AIS switchgear is 31.5 kA. Thus
this combination would meet the functional requirement

The zig zag connection offers a good solution. Let us have a look at the simplified
connection diagram in Fig. - 8

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 r
r1

r2 , y3 y2 , b3

y1

b2 , r3
b

b1
Fig 8

Fig 9

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 In zig-zag connection two secondary winding are wound in one limb. From
Fig. – 8 we see how the windings are to be interconnected to give a vector
group of Yn Z11

In Fig. – 9 we see that in case we have an earth fault in phase R, the fault current
flows through the secondary windings of Y and R phase. Due to ampere
turns balance the reflected fault current will flow through the lines of R and Y
in the primary circuit. Thus an earth fault in the zig-zag side is reflected as
an L – L overcurrent.

From the above we can see that by adopting a YnZ11 connection, we get the
following advantages.

• A cheaper transformer due to graded insulation in the 220kV star

side.
• A cheaper OLTC due to the reduced insulation requirement of OLTC.
• Earth fault isolation between secondary and primary
• Provision of sensitive earth fault possible in the zig-zag connected
secondary due to the presence of the neutral.

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